La Cieca
James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.
La Cieca is sort of out of words trying to describe what makes a great performance of the role of Norma, as opposed to the conscientious traversal of the notes.
“Miss Garden has made a new and striking impersonation as the heroine of this opera.”
Alluring soprano star Danielle de Niese, wife of Glyndebourne Opera boss Gus Christie, had that sinking feeling when she arrived for a performance at the Arts Club in Mayfair—and discovered her glamorous gowns were missing!
Which erstwhile diva will be back, if not actually “back soon” (we’re talking 2016) to sing an opera she’s performed before at the Met, though not the same role?
La Cieca is going to go out on a not very long limb here and say that Dick Johnson in La fanciulla del West is a great role for Jonas Kaufmann and may well turn out to be one of his three or four greatest.
ollowing La Cieca’s meager example above, the cher public are encouraged to devise images of album covers based on Renée Fleming’s Guilty Pleasures
CD.
It’s almost curtain time, cher public, so get started on your discussion of off-topic and general interest subjects.
It’s just a teensy bit late for Verdi’s birthday, but La Cieca thinks you’ll enjoy the latest vocal ID challenge, cher public.
Which honcho in the Met’s administration is retiring this spring, leaving a major gap in the chain of command?
“Modern opera studiously avoids anything so old-fashioned as melody or emotion, which seems to me a contradiction of what music is all about.”
“Opera America, a service organization for opera companies, has expressed interest in purchasing City Opera’s thrift shop…”
Prominent local “billionaire scam artist” Alberto Vilar has asked for an extension on his court-imposed curfew so he may attend the Met’s Eugene Onegin and “socialize” afterward with the performers.
Queer Nation claims responsibility for tonight’s political action in Carnegie Hall, chanting “[Valery] Gergiev, Your Silence is Killing Russian Gays!”
“The gloves are off, the chips are down; my patience has run out.”
Emma Thompson will portray Mrs. Lovett in the New York Philharmonic’s staged production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Swan of Busseto, La Cieca invites the cher public to share reminiscences of great Verdi performances—and YouTube clips, of course!
“Russian soprano Marina Poplavskaya has fallen ill and unfortunately has had to withdraw from singing the role of Hélène in Les Vêpres siciliennes in the final rehearsals and the first three performances in October.”
The pictured Zachary Gordin is only one (or, at most, three) of the plethora of pinups provided by this year’s 2014 Barihunks Charity Calendar, on sale now with all proceeds going to help support young artists and young artist programs.
The Mary Garden Cocktail.
The celebrated opera director and filmmaker died today of lung cancer in Paris. He was 68.
“The La clemenza di Tito contract will be offered as a ‘Solo Dancer’ contract and requires 8 physically fit men…. The David McVicar production…”
Ça va sans dire, cher public.
When Mr. Steel asked Mr. Koch if he could make further gifts to save the company, Mr. Koch demurred, telling Mr. Steel that the Marshall family might be less than pleased.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
